My first few months as leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats have been hectic to say the least. I am pleased to say that I have been much in demand both by external groups and also with our members across Wales.
It has been slightly frustrating that much of the media coverage has been dominated by the fact that I’m a woman rather than what I may offer as a politician, but that is a novelty that is wearing off. We live in hope that one day in the not to distant future it will not be a novelty to begin with.
On the plus side it has been a hook with which to draw in our friends in the media, and now that they have started paying attention the overall effect is a welcome rise in the profile of the Party. Plans in coming weeks include addressing the Institute of Welsh Affairs and the first leg of a University tour, which I hope help lay to rest any suspicion in the outside world that all I have to offer is a nice dress and good shoes!
At the Assembly we continue to scrutinise the Government and keep them on their toes. Recent research has uncovered a growing culture of waste and poor management. They waste money on un-necessary consultants and their free hospital parking gimmicks whilst the Health Service in Wales builds up a £450m backlog of repairs.
Meanwhile out in the real world Wales suffers twice as much from the economic failures of the Labour Government. We have to suffer their incompetence not only at Westminster but at Cardiff Bay – where they share power with a Plaid Cymru party showing ever greater divisions.
We have called for them to tap into some of the substantial reserves to stimulate the Welsh construction industry by embarking upon an ambitious capital spend. In the third quarter of 2008, construction output fell by a staggering 8.4% compared to a UK fall of only 0.8%.
We’ve seen a dramatic increase in unemployment in the last few months. Some 100,000 people are currently unemployed in Wales, 6.6 per cent of the population. For the first time in five years, the figure is above the UK average of 5.8 per cent. The First Minister desperately clutching at straws. said this could be a ‘blip’ – well, Rhodri, this is some blip.
In a recent debate we called for the Assembly Government to do more to improve the standard of skills and education and prepare the workforce both for difficult times such as these and the future economic upturn we hope will come.
So far their strategies offer too little far too late. Even those that could offer some benefit to companies that are struggling are tied up – in true Labour fashion – in endless red tape. An example is a much heralded project by the name of Pro Act which is designed to offer struggling businesses retain skilled staff and enhance their skills ready for an economic upturn. The application process has eight stages and the application then needs to be assessed by two separate Government departments.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats have been stressing the need to support and attract small and medium-sized enterprises, and put the emphasis on private investment. Historically Wales relies far too much on public sector jobs. As yet we are fortunate in that the recession has not hit those jobs, but given the appallingly low Local Government settlement this year – which has angered Labour Councils as well as others – that may be about to change
Within the Party there is a growing sense of confidence. I am determined that we should increase our levels of internal communication – after all if we can’t sell our ideas, policies and enthusiasm for what we can achieve to our own members then what hope do we have outside?
Whilst the possibilities of a spring General Election seem to be receding we don’t intend to let up the pressure campaign wise. We do have an election this year – the European election. In some ways a difficult sell when the UK economy is rightly taking centre stage, it is an area where we can make gains and as such cannot be ignored.
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